The separation of mixtures is a high energy consumption in industrial production. Membrane separation technology has advantages such as low energy consumption, high efficiency and low cost.

As a new membrane materials, oxide graphene and its derivatives, such as 2 d materials such as solvent, ionic liquid phase separation and gas separation in all showed good separation performance, become one of research hotspots in the field of membrane separation.

However, how to accurately control (reduce) the two-dimensional graphene oxide layer spacing to adapt to the different sizes of molecules or ions efficient screening, and how to enhance the flexible material graphene oxide mechanical strength, is the difficulties challenging subject in the field.

Working in early peak team (Chem Commu, and RSC Adv), on the basis of the development and validation of a rapid preparation of electrodeposition on porous stainless steel hollow fiber ultra-thin oxide graphene composite membrane, the method of two-dimensional layer can effectively reduce spacing and enhance the mechanical properties of membrane.

Under the effect of circular electric field, the graphene oxide on the electrode portion of hair first electric reduction, then through electrostatic force to promote deposition in the surface of working electrode of stainless steel hollow fiber, ultra-thin uniform graphene oxide film formation.

It is possible to control the 2-d interval between graphene in a certain range through electric reduction, which can be applied to a specific separation system.

The study found that under the condition of the optimization of the deposition of graphene oxide composite membrane can be precise sieving size is very close to the C2 and C3 and ethylene (ethane) (propane and propylene) hydrocarbon molecules, C2 / C3 ideal selectivity of 190-550.

The separation of C2 and C3 hydrocarbons in the process of natural gas purification, methanol olefin (MTO) and FTO (FTO) is a realistic separation requirement.

In addition, the electrodeposition of graphene composite membrane in the liquid phase separation of alcohol-type dehydration and seawater desalination shows high separation performance, which can effectively screen the smallest alcohol molecules and ions.

The research work has been funded by the national natural science foundation of China and the youth innovation promotion association of the Chinese academy of sciences.